Summer music highlights of 2026

Summer 2026 brought a diverse lineup of musical acts to Lollapalooza in Chicago, featuring both established and emerging artists. Bruce Springsteen headlined the event with his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour at the United Center on April 29, 2026. The four-day festival at Grant Park saw over 100,000 attendees each day, with select performances livestreamed on Hulu and Disney+.

Day One began with the alternative pop duo Haute & Freddy, featuring Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp, who brought a carnival theme to the festival. Their debut album, "Big Disgrace," was released the previous year. 5 Seconds of Summer, a pop band from Australia, also performed on Day One, with their most recent album being "Everyone's a Star!" (2025).

Audrey Hobert, known as "Sue Me," performed on Day One, wearing a long trenchcoat and forgoing her Groucho glasses. The Filipino boy band SB19 took the stage with hits from their P-Pop repertoire, while electronic music duo Empire of the Sun performed a mix of hits from their discography.

Day Two featured actress and singer Suki Waterhouse, who performed songs from her third album, "Loveland," released earlier that month. Ella Boh, a singer-songwriter, and Finn Wolfhard, known for his role in "Stranger Things" and his musical career with Calpurnia, also performed.

The alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins returned to Lollapalooza for the first time since 1994, performing at the festival in Chicago. Billy Corgan and Olivia Rodrigo collaborated on "Thirty-Three" during the set. The Neighbourhood, an alternative rock band from California, had to improvise with improvised rain gear due to equipment issues.

During Day Three, the start was delayed due to rain, and the Neighbourhood's livestream was cancelled due to equipment issues. Canadian singer, songwriter, and dancer Tate McRae closed out the festival on Day Four, performing songs from her 2025 album "So Close to What," which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.